As the Terps gear up for the start of Fall Ball, here’s a look at how Maryland players fared this summer, including a few championships and one league MVP.
CAPE COD BASEBALL LEAGUE
A favorite of Maryland, the Brewster Whitecaps hosted two Terps over the summer. Both southpaw Sean Fisher and catcher Justin Vought took advantage of their time on the Cape, even though Brewster didn’t make the playoffs.
Fisher fared better than his counterpart and earned the Whitecaps’ Reliever of the Year award with a 2.84 ERA in 12 appearances, and only 22 hits allowed in 25 1/3 innings, including 15 strikeouts.
Vought struggled some, but still finished the summer with two homers in only 18 games.
Right-hander Mark DiLuia also spent some time in the Cape this summer, where he tallied three strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings pitched for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.
NEW ENGLAND COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Six Terps spent their summer in the NECBL, spread over three teams. With the NECBL 2019 Champions, the Keene Swamp Bats, outfielder Randy Bednar racked up an impressive .337 average with nine home runs and 15 doubles, enough for the junior to be selected to the first team all-league.
Also with Keene, Sean Heine tossed 21 1/3 innings and tallied 16 strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Trevor LaBonte and Mike Vasturia bolstered the Sanford Mainers’ pitching staff. LaBonte started five games for the Mainers and worked a 5.31 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings. Vasturia struggled in his two relief appearances.
For the Mystic Schooners, Billy Phillips and Josh Maguire both continued to develop. Phillips made one start and 15 relief appearances, striking out 16 in 17 innings. Maguire struggled offensively, but worked 15 walks and two doubles.
PERFECT GAME COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Without a doubt the best performance by a Terp this summer, Maxwell Costes stole the show in the PGCBL with the Amsterdam Mohawks.
Costes was named PGCBL Player of the Year, as well as being awarded PGCBL First-Team honors with his .374 average, 36 RBIs and record-breaking 12 home runs. He was also named the MVP of the PGCBL championship series.
Oh, and did we mention that he got to throw out the first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles game?
Also with Amsterdam, Drew Wilden notched 23 strikeouts in 16.1 innings, but struggled to minimize opposing offenses, working a 6.06 ERA.
FUTURES COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Over in the Futures league, Benjamin Cowles and Ben Irvine put up solid numbers at the plate, while Daniel O’Connor continued to develop on the mound. The trio played for the Nashua Silver Knights.
Irvine batted .287 over his 129 plate appearances, including 16 RBIs and 20 walks, while Cowles racked up 10 stolen bases in 29 games and O’Connor punched out 28 batters in 23 innings of work.
PROSPECT COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Down in West Virginia, Caleb Walls and Michael Pineiro continued their spring success with the Miners.
Pineiro went yard three times while batting .333, while Walls tore up the bases with 18 stolen bases and a solid .264 average in 50 games.
CAL RIPKEN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Back in Maryland, senior Elliot Zoellner threw a solid summer session, working a 1.20 ERA in 11 relief appearances and helping carry the Bethesda Big Train to their fourth consecutive championship (their second with Zoellner in the bullpen), and was named to the All-CRCBL First Team.
Maryland Baseball Network 